Eric D. Colburn, PLS

Apple iPhone 3GS

Last week I started using a couple of new technologies and tools, Google Apps and the Apple iPhone, which I will be writing about in future posts after an evaluation period. I did, however, want to share with you a little about these new (to me) additions to my tool chest.

Google Apps, Helping Businesses Work Smarter

OK, so that’s a line more or less right from a Google Apps benefits web page. But this is one of the reasons I looked into and decided to switch my email system over to Google Apps, along with all the other features included.

Here’s my story:

Professional Land Surveyor opens business. Professional Land Surveyor buys many computers over the years and software for land surveying needs and business applications. Documents, email and contacts are now easily stored on computer.

Communication and sharing becomes an issue.

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Magellan Triton 2000

While not necessarily thought of as a tool for Professional Land Surveyors, the , none the less, is a very handy tool for Professional Land Surveyors and outdoor enthusiast, alike. The Magellan Triton 2000 has proved to be a good tool to have in any Professional Land Surveyor’s tool box.

What I liked about the Magellan Triton 2000 is:

1. The full-color display. It was easy to read and the touch-screen worked well. While it was easy to read in full sun light, the real strength is using the Magellan Triton 2000 in low-light conditions, like under heavy tree canopy. In the woods, the screen is very readable, I think even better than out in the brighter locations.
2. The Magellan Triton 2000 takes 2 megapixel photos with geographic locations in the field. This can be a great way to take photos of the monuments you find in the field, and then be able to distinguish between them geographically back at the office. With a regular digital camera, if you’re not careful, it can be hard to tell what the photos you took in the field actually represent. With the Magellan Triton 2000 you now have a way to incorporate these photos into your project GIS.
3. The Magellan Triton 2000 comes Read the rest of this entry →

What value would you give to your survey monuments if they could provide longevity, be easily found and are environmentally friendly, too? One solution that provides all of these benefits is the EcoStake, available exclusively from Berntsen.

Berntsen was kind enough to provide me with a small sample of the EcoStake in the different sizes, markings and colored tops to try out. I was interested in seeing if the EcoStake made a good survey control point, being easy to set yet solid, and be easy to relocate. The fact that the EcoStake is a product made from recycled plastics and is a “green” product appealed to me, also.

EcoStake Facts:

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It’s that time of the year again when things warm up and Deer Ticks decide that we make a good meal. This would only be a minor inconvenience, at worst leaving you with a case of the heebie-jeebies, if it weren’t for the fact that these little blood suckers carry and transmit Lyme Disease.

I recommend taking precautions to avoid getting Lyme Disease. I’ve had it a few times and it’s no fun. As a matter of fact, it comes with some serious symptoms, such as:

• Rash. You may develop a small red bump initially and it may be warm to the touch and mildly tender. It may then form a rash as small as 1/4 inch or as large as 12 inches (30 centimeters) in diameter. This type of rash is most often identified as a “bull’s-eye” rash having a red ring around a clear area with a red center. This rash only affects about 70 percent to 80 percent of people infected with Lyme disease. I’ve had Lyme Disease four times, and only once have I had the “bulls-eye” rash.
• Flu-like symptoms. A fever, chills, fatigue, body aches and a headache may accompany the rash.
• Migratory joint pain. If the infection is not treated, you may develop bouts of severe joint pain and swelling several weeks to months after you’re infected. Your knees are especially likely to be affected, but the pain can shift from one joint to another.
• Neurological problems. In some cases, inflammation of the membranes surrounding your brain (meningitis), temporary paralysis of one side of your face (Bell’s palsy), numbness or weakness in your limbs, and impaired muscle movement may occur weeks, months or even years after an untreated infection. Memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and changes in mood or sleep habits also can be symptoms of late-stage Lyme disease.
• Less common signs and symptoms. Some people may experience heart problems — such as an irregular heartbeat — several weeks after infection, but this rarely lasts more than a few days or weeks. Eye inflammation, hepatitis and severe fatigue are possible as well.

If left untreated Lyme disease can become a serious and life threatening.

One product I’ve had great success with keeping Deer Ticks off of me is Sawyer Permethrin – Clothing Insect Repellent.

Product Features

Sawyer Permethrin Pump Spray – 6 Ounce Insect killer and repellent for your clothing is effective against ticks, chiggers, mites and mosquitoes for up to 6 weeks. Non-aerosol pump bottle contains 6-oz. of repellent, or enough to coat 2 full outfits; a full outfit consists of shirt, trousers and socks. Repellent should be applied outdoors and before clothing is worn; hang clothing and spray, let dry for 2 hours (4 hours in humid conditions). One treatment will last up to six washings or six weeks before clothing has to be treated again. Effective against ticks that carry Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Contains permethrin, the same active ingredient that is also used in Duranon™ and Permanone®.

I have used Sawyer Permethrin Pump Spray – 6 Ounce with very good results. Having had Lyme Disease, from deer ticks, a few times – protection from these pest is paramount to me. Another benefit is that it also keeps away most other insects you will encounter surveying in the field.

I rate this product 3 RODS out of a total possible 4 RODS.

CHECK THIS OUT – PRINTER INK CARTRIDGES AND LASER TONER!

I don’t know about you, but my land surveying business runs on printing supplies and a lot of ink. The printing supplies used to deliver your hard copy plans can be expensive. Check out 123inkjets.com and see if you can save some of your hard earned money by buying your printing supplies through them.

123inkjets.com offers printer ink cartridges and laser toners for all major printers such as HP, Cannon, Lexmark, and Dell. They say they make the shopping experience easy and fun, offering high quality products to meet your needs. They also provide a 1-year risk free guarantee for consumers, and free shipping on purchases of $55 or more.

I found the ink cartridge I use for my plotter at over half off (53% less) the price I usually pay. The technical specifications given on their website for my ink cartridge is:

“Our high quality black inkjet cartridges use high-density, pigmented ink to produce crisp, sharp characters and deliver great-looking results, page after page. Ideal for business or home users who want professional-quality, long-lasting printouts. This high quality inkjet cartridge was professionally re-engineered in a manufacturing facility that uses state of the art processes to insure that this cartridge will print as well as the original.”

123inkjets.com can be a good OEM inkjet and toner alternative.

THANK YOU!

I want to thank everyone who visited. I hope that you find the content interesting and useful to you. This is just a quick post to thank everyone who visited and to give a July 2008 wrapup detailing some successes and what I have in the works.

July really was the first month that I worked “full time” on the site. It has been a slower transition than I would have liked. However, I have been getting everything in order so that I can put my full efforts into creating and publishing useful, interesting and valuable content. Finding the right balance between blogging, running a professional land surveying business and family is challenging, but I am enjoying every minute of it.

In a perfect world you could spend the exact amount of time on what is important to you with perfect balance and harmony in your professional and family life. But as you all know, you sometimes get pulled in directions you might not otherwise have planned for, or need to place more emphasis in one area of your life over another area.

Proper life balance is never about getting every minute right, it’s about getting it right as a whole, with many ups and downs in between. Just remember, we all get the same amount of hours every day to work with-choose wisely.

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